Guarding
208 Guarding
This section applies if guarding is used as a control measure in relation to plant at a workplace.
The person with management or control of the plant must ensure that—
if access to the area of the plant requiring guarding is not necessary during operation, maintenance or cleaning of the plant, the guarding is a permanently fixed physical barrier; or
if access to the area of the plant requiring guarding is necessary during operation, maintenance or cleaning of the plant, the guarding is an interlocked physical barrier that allows access to the area being guarded at times when that area does not present a risk and prevents access to that area at any other time; or
if it is not reasonably practicable to use guarding mentioned in paragraph (a) or (b), the guarding used is a physical barrier that can only be altered or removed by the use of tools; or
if it is not reasonably practicable to use guarding mentioned in paragraph (a), (b) or (c), the guarding includes a presence‑sensing safeguarding system that eliminates any risk arising from the area of the plant requiring guarding while a person or any part of a person is in the area being guarded.
Maximum penalty: tier E monetary penalty.
Note Strict liability applies to each physical element of each offence under this regulation, unless otherwise stated (see s 6A).
The person with management or control of the plant must ensure that the guarding—
is of solid construction and securely mounted so as to resist impact or shock; and
makes bypassing or disabling of the guarding, whether deliberately or by accident, as difficult as is reasonably practicable; and
does not create a risk in itself; and
is properly maintained.
Maximum penalty: tier E monetary penalty.
Note Strict liability applies to each physical element of each offence under this regulation, unless otherwise stated (see s 6A).
If the plant to be guarded contains moving parts that may break or cause workpieces to be ejected from the plant, the person with management or control of the plant must ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, that the guarding will control any risk from those broken or ejected parts and workpieces.
Maximum penalty: tier E monetary penalty.
Note Strict liability applies to each physical element of each offence under this regulation, unless otherwise stated (see s 6A).
Despite anything to the contrary in this section, the person with management or control of the plant must ensure—
that the guarding is of a kind that can be removed to allow maintenance and cleaning of the plant at any time that the plant is not in normal operation; and
if guarding is removed, that, so far as is reasonably practicable, the plant cannot be restarted unless the guarding is replaced.
Maximum penalty: tier E monetary penalty.
Note Strict liability applies to each physical element of each offence under this regulation, unless otherwise stated (see s 6A).
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